My VW Transporter T5 camper build
Discussion
Leigh, that is one seriously awesome build! massive kudos to you. You've tipped me over the edge, I am buying a T5! I've been umming and arring a lot!
Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
tomcopley9 said:
Leigh, that is one seriously awesome build! massive kudos to you. You've tipped me over the edge, I am buying a T5! I've been umming and arring a lot!
Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
Thanks! Couple of questions if you wouldn't mind... how do you find the height? a lot of people seem to think the transporter isn't tall enough as standard.
Do you think the same enjoyment could be had from a SWB? ie do you think LWB is essential?
and do the vans come with a headliner or did you make one? if you made one, was it part of the pre-cut plywood lining kit?
Oh and last question, hows the mpg and reliability/running costs?
Many thanks! and once again, wow!
As far as the height is concerned, it doesn't bother me, I'm generally sat down when I'm in there. Put it this way, I've had it for well over four years now, and I haven't had the urge to add a pop top, although it would be worth more with one. A couple of my friends have Skyline pop tops on theirs, and that's what what I would choose if I did add one. Cost is around £3k fitted.
For me, the lwb is essential with a full conversion, the extra 400mm makes all the difference. With the bed down, there is still some floor space (enough to use the portaloo!), you definitely wouldn't have this with a swb.
The headlining (in the cab & the rear) is factory, just covered with the megastretch carpet.
MPG is mid to high thirties. Reliability? Well, mine has over 100k on the clock, and was previously a tradesman's van, so some items have needed replacing, but nothing really unexpected - it's had a new clutch/DMF, driveshaft, rear brake caliper, ball joints, rear shocks, all the usual things that fail at that mileage. I do have it serviced properly every year even though annual mileage is low, but I need it to be dependable - it's no good being in the Scottish Highlands and letting me down!
I don't regret buying and converting it one bit, I'd sell my other cars before I parted with this if I had to!
Hi Leigh, I commented on your build recently - its still my inspiration! I've been hard at work looking for a suitable van and I'm finding that for my budget (7-9k) I either need to go higher mileage or older than I had wanted to. What was the mileage on your van when you bought it? Peolle claim they run forever, would you consider a van with more than 100k ? Cheers!
Love your van, great style and the quality looks top notice.
You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
RESTELL said:
Love your van, great style and the quality looks top notice.
You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
Thanks very much!You have a great solution for table storage, hanging it on the back door. Mines always in the way and drives me mad!
Where did you get your brackets and locators for the table? I think youve inspired me to do the same!
Thanks
Ebay, HERE
Holy thread resurrection Batman.
It's now coming up 10 years since I bought this van and it's still going strong. The tyres were getting old, so man maths kicked in and I've treated it to a new set of wheels. Freshened it up no end I think.
The interior is holding up well too, everything works perfectly still.
It's now coming up 10 years since I bought this van and it's still going strong. The tyres were getting old, so man maths kicked in and I've treated it to a new set of wheels. Freshened it up no end I think.
The interior is holding up well too, everything works perfectly still.
Edited by LeighW on Monday 11th March 16:43
Jeepers - seems like only yesterday I was watching this thread and you building it!!
Still looks as good as when you finished. Hope you're getting a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Out of interest, how's the T5 fairing? It's getting on a bit now, many issues? I'm guessing given the way the market has evolved post-C19, your return on investment if you wanted to sell it would be pretty good.
Still looks as good as when you finished. Hope you're getting a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Out of interest, how's the T5 fairing? It's getting on a bit now, many issues? I'm guessing given the way the market has evolved post-C19, your return on investment if you wanted to sell it would be pretty good.
Time flies eh!
It's been pretty good to be honest, but I don't scrimp on maintenance and it's serviced every year. It's had all the usual things replaced that fail on these, such as drive shaft / stub shaft, clutch /flywheel, injector seals, exhaust etc, nothing major. I did have one moment last summer when the intercooler split when I was 400 odd miles from home in Aberdeenshire. It was doubly annoying as I'd had it serviced not long before we went and I'd told them to give it a good check over. They obviously missed the banana shaped intercooler that was about to let go. No garages could fit me in so I had no choice but to limp it home on light throttle - not fun - and fix it myself. Genuine VW intercooler wasn't cheap, but it's remapped and I don't want it happening again. I also replaced the pipes while I was at it.
If you look carefully at the photos you might be able to spot the problem.
Before
After
It's been pretty good to be honest, but I don't scrimp on maintenance and it's serviced every year. It's had all the usual things replaced that fail on these, such as drive shaft / stub shaft, clutch /flywheel, injector seals, exhaust etc, nothing major. I did have one moment last summer when the intercooler split when I was 400 odd miles from home in Aberdeenshire. It was doubly annoying as I'd had it serviced not long before we went and I'd told them to give it a good check over. They obviously missed the banana shaped intercooler that was about to let go. No garages could fit me in so I had no choice but to limp it home on light throttle - not fun - and fix it myself. Genuine VW intercooler wasn't cheap, but it's remapped and I don't want it happening again. I also replaced the pipes while I was at it.
If you look carefully at the photos you might be able to spot the problem.
Before
After
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